Griner was arrested in February at a Moscow airport after Russian officials said they found cannabis oil in her luggage. The basketball star, who plays in Russia during the WNBA’s offseason, has since been held on drug-trafficking charges punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Her trial began last week. The US State Department has called Griner wrongfully detained, and her supporters have called for her release amid fears she is being used as a political pawn amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Griner’s plea came on the second day of her trial, which began last week when a prosecutor accused her of smuggling less than a gram of cannabis oil in her luggage. According to state media agency TASS, prosecutors allege that Griner intended to import the drugs into Russian territory and put the banned substances in a backpack and a suitcase. On Wednesday, the White House announced that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone with Griner’s wife, Cheryl Griner. Cherelle Griner was “grateful” for the call from Biden and Harris, she said in a statement Wednesday. “While I will remain concerned and honest until she returns home, I hope to know that the President read my wife’s letter and took the time to respond,” she said. “I know BG will be able to take comfort in knowing that she is not forgotten.” This is a developing story and will be updated.
